Worship and Cultural Patterns in the Early Church

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Worship and Cultural Patterns in the Early Church

• Trinity Theological Seminary of South Florida

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Worship and Cultural Patterns in the Early Church

• Course Content
• Week One-Where early Christians worshipped
• Week Two - How they worshipped
• Week Three -Baptism the Eucharist
• Week Four - Church leadership and hierarchy
• Week Five - 630 A.D. 325 A.D.

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Key sources

• The New Testament, especially Acts of the
  Apostles and Pauls letters
• The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles, an early
  second century guide for new converts
  (catechumens)
• Justyn Martyrs First Apology (c. 150 A.D.),
  which describes an early worship service, as well
  as the Eucharist
• The 3rd or 4th century Apostolic Constitutions
  which is a detailed guide for church form and
  practice

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First century where they worshipped

• Week One

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First century where they worshipped

• Reflecting the Jewish roots of Christianity, the
  earliest worship practices in the Christian
  Church centered around the Temple in Jerusalem
• Acts 246 (see also Acts 246, 41, 512,
  517-21, 542)

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Where they worshipped

• As Paul spread his ministry throughout the Roman
  Empire, preaching primarily to the Gentiles, he
  would often preach first in a Jewish synagogue as
  he entered a new city

Who Where Reference
Paul Damascus Acts 920
Paul Barnabas Salamis Acts 135
Paul Barnabas Iconium Acts 141
Paul Silas Thessalonica Acts 172
Paul Silas Berea Acts 1710
Paul Athens Acts 1717
Paul Corinth Acts 184
Paul Ephesus Acts 1819
Paul Ephesus Acts 198
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End of Temple worship

• Temple worship was completely wiped out in 70
  A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem

Engraving from The Life And Works Of Flavius
Josephus, by William Whiston, Translator -
depicting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70
A.D.)
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House churches

• Often located on the upper levels of small shops
• Typically accommodated 10-20 people
• See, for example, 1 Cor 1619, and

House owner Reference
Mary, Mother of John Mark (Acts 1212)
Titius Justus (Acts 187)
Nympha (Col 415)
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Where they worshipped

• Over time, as the worship communities grew,
  houses were converted to places of worship, often
  by removing walls to enlarge common areas for
  worship and meals
• In Rome, these were sometimes referred to as
  "title churches", after the name of the original
  donor
• The earliest (c. 232 A.D.) extant known church is
  located in Dura-Europos in modern day Iraq

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Where they worshipped - cemeteries

• Commemorative feasts were sometimes held at
  graves to worship "in the company of martyrs
• Worship services were often held in the catacombs
  of Rome, to avoid the detection of the
  authorities

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How they worshipped 2nd 3rd centuries

• Justyn Martyr in his First Apology, c. 150 A.D.
  outlines a Christian service

Modern church service 150 A.D. church service
Old and New Testament readings the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read
Sermon the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things
Prayers of the people Then we all rise together and pray
Communion bread and wine and water are broughtthere is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given Note this could also be describing the agape meal
Offering And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit
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First century where they worshipped End of
Week One

• Write a 1 2 page essay on places the early
  church worshiped. Make sure to list all
  citations. Must be in APA format.
• Submit to the Drop Box in the Trinity Website

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First Century Church How They Worshipped

• Week Two

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How they worshiped

• Acts 432-37 and Acts 244-47 tell us that the
  early primitive Jerusalem church practiced a form
  of communal worship that included shared
  ownership of property
• There is no evidence that it ever appeared in the
  Gentile church, probably because the Gentile
  church realized that if they sold of all of their
  possessions and means for generating wealth, they
  wouldnt have any money for the church to survive
  on in the future

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How they worshiped

• The communal form of worship made a comeback in a
  model followed by early monastics such as St.
  Antony (251-356) and St. Benedict

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What is Monasticism?

• Monasticism (from Greek µ??a???, a solitary
  person) is the ancient Christian practice of
  withdrawal from the world in order to dedicate
  oneself fully and intensely to the life of the
  Gospel, seeking union with Jesus Christ.
• The focus of monasticism is on theosis, the
  process of perfection to which every Christian is
  called. This ideal is expressed everywhere that
  the things of God are sought above all other
  things, as seen for example in the Philokalia, a
  book of monastic writings. In other words, a monk
  or nun is a person who has vowed to follow not
  only the commandments of the Church, but also the
  counsels (i.e., vows of poverty, chastity,
  stability, and obedience). The words of Jesus
  which are the cornerstone for this ideal are "be
  ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."
• Thus, monks practice hesychasm, the spiritual
  struggle of purification (???a?s??), illumination
  (?e???a) and divinization (???s??) in prayer, the
  sacraments and obedience.

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What is Monasticism?

• For a web field trip to find out more on the
  history of Monasticism, click on this link
  www.orthodoxwiki.org/Monastics

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Christian Assembly on the Lords Day
But every Lords day do ye gather yourselves
together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving
after having confessed your transgressions, that
your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that
is at variance with his fellow come together with
you, until they be reconciled, that your
sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that
which was spoken by the Lord In every place and
time offer to me a pure sacrifice for I am a
great King, saith the Lord, and my name is
wonderful among the na-tions. (Teachings of the
Twelve Apostles, Chapter 14)
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Week Two - How they worshipped

• End of Week Two
• Write a short essay on Monasticism and what your
  views are on the concept.
• Be sure to give citations Must be in APA format -
  
• Place in the Drop Box of the Trinity Website

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Week Three -Baptism the Eucharist

• Week Three

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Eucharist
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Agape

• Various sources indicate that in the early
  church, a fellowship meal (agape, the "love
  feast") was followed by the Eucharist
  (thanksgiving)
• Early Christians gave thanks during the meal and
  prayers were said over wine and broken bread
  (Acts 242, 246, 207, 2011)
• 1 Cor 1120-29 records that there were some
  difficulties in combining the fellowship meal
  with the Eucharist
• In time, the practice of combining the fellowship
  meal with the Eucharist faded

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Eucharist
And this food is called among us the
Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake
but the man who believes that the things which we
teach are true, and who has been washed with the
washing that is for has enjoined. For not as
common bread and common drink do we receive
these but in like manner as Jesus Christ our
Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of
God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation,
so likewise have we been taught that the food
which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and
from which our blood and flesh by transmutation
are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that
Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in
the memoirs composed by them, which are called
Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was
enjoined upon them that Jesus took bread, and
when He had given thanks, said, This do ye in
remembrance of Me, this is My body and that,
after the same manner, having taken the cup and
given thanks, He said, This is My blood and
gave it to them alone... (First Apology, Chapter
66, Justyn Martyr, c. 150 A.D.)
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Eucharist

• Hippolytus in his c. 215 A.D. Apostolic Tradition
  adds these thoughts
• The Eucharist should be received before any other
  food
• Great care should be taken that nothing is
  spilled
• Sacred bread should not be left where an
  unbaptized person (or even a mouse) could eat it
• "And when he breaks the bread, in distributing
  fragments to each, he shall say The bread of
  heaven in Christ Jesus."

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Eucharist
Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Eucharist),
thus give thanks. First, concerning the cup We
thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine of
David Thy servant, which Thou madest known to us
through Jesus Thy Servant to Thee be the glory
for ever. And concerning the broken bread We
thank Thee, our Father, for the life and
knowledge which Thou madest known to us through
Jesus Thy Servant to Thee be the glory for ever.
Even as this broken bread was scattered over the
hills, and was gathered together and became one,
so let Thy Church be gathered together from the
ends of the earth into Thy kingdom for Thine is
the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for
ever. But let no one eat or drink of your
Thanksgiving (Eucharist), but they who have been
baptized into the name of the Lord for
concerning this also the Lord hath said, Give not
that which is holy to the dogs. (The Teaching
of the Twelve Apostles, Chapter 9, emphasis
added))
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What are the Teachings of the Twelve Apostles?

• To find out more, click on the link below
• www.answers.com/topic/didache

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Baptism
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Baptism NT early church references
Reference Comments
Pentecost Pentecost
Acts 14 - 15 ...in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. are water baptism and baptism by the Holy Spirit two separate things? Does one follow the other?
Acts 21 - 241 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit...
Acts 238 239 The promise is for you and your children... -sometimes used to justify infant baptism
Baptism and the Apostles Baptism and the Apostles
Acts 86 - 825 Baptism of Simon Magus Acts 814/16 seems to indicate that baptism by the Holy Spirit can follow water baptism
Acts 826 - 840 Philip baptizes the eunuch
Acts 917 - 919 Saul receives the Holy Spirit from the laying on of hands by Ananias, and is then baptized
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Baptism NT early church references
Acts 1044 - 1048 Gentiles receive Holy Spirit before water baptism
Acts 1614 - 1615 Acts 1633 Acts 188, 1 Cor 116 Household baptisms sometimes used to establish a scriptural basis for infant baptism
Acts 1823 - Acts 1828 Apollo ...he knew only the baptism of John
Acts 191 - 197 Paul baptizes followers of John the Baptist When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them...
1 Cor 113 - 117 Paul came not to baptize but to preach
Meaning of Baptism Meaning of Baptism
Rom 63 - 64 ...all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death...
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Baptism NT early church references
1 Cor 1213 ...we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body...
Eph 44 - 46 ...one Lord, one faith, one baptism...
Col 211-12 Paul seems to equate circumcision with baptism sometimes used to establish a scriptural basis for infant baptism
Gal 326 - 328 "...all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ
Titus 35 - 36 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit...
1 Pet 318 - 322 Noah and family saved by water This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also...
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Meaning of baptism
"And for this rite we have learned from the
apostles this reason. Since at our birth we were
born without our own knowledge or choice, by our
parents coming together, and were brought up in
bad habits and wicked training in order that we
may not remain the children of necessity and of
ignorance, but may become the children of choice
and knowledge, and may obtain in the water the
remission of sins for-merly committed, there is
pronounced over him who chooses to be born again,
and has repented of his sins, the name of God the
Father and Lord of the universe he who leads to
the laver the person that is to be washed calling
him by this name alone." (First Apology, Justin
Martyr, p 339)
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Baptism ceremony
And concerning baptism, thus baptize ye Having
first said all these things, baptize into the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit, in living water. But if thou have
not living water, baptize into other water and
if thou canst not in cold, in warm. But if thou
have not either, pour out water thrice upon the
head into the name of Father and Son and Holy
Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer
fast, and the baptized, and whatever others can
but thou shalt order the baptized to fast one or
two days before. (The Teaching of the Twelve
Apostles, Chapter 7)
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Immersion or sprinkling?
"Where there is no scarcity of water the stream
shall flow through the baptismal font or pour
into it from above but if water is scarce,
whether on a constant condition or on occasion,
then use whatever water is available. Let them
remove their clothing. Baptize first the
children, and if they can speak for themselves
let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or
other relatives speak for them." (Hippolytus, The
Apostolic Tradition, 2115).
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The form of baptism

• The Constitutions describe the meaning of the
  immersion and rising up out of the water

"This baptism, therefore, is given into the death
of Jesus the water is instead of the
burial...the descent into the water the dying
together with Christ the ascent out of the water
the rising again with Him. (Apostolic
Constitutions, Book 3, Section 16/17)
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The form of baptism

• Typically a two to three year period of
  instruction into the Christian faith
• A period of fasting prior to the baptism
• Catechumens were expected to lead lives of
  purity, and to renounce Satan
• Baptisms were generally performed by church
  officials (bishops, presbyters, etc.), often in
  the period preceding Easter
• The baptism itself included both an anointing
  with oil and/or ointment, as well as the dipping
  or immersion in water

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The liturgy of baptism early use of the
Apostles Creed
When the person being baptized goes down into
the water, he who baptizes him, putting his hand
on him, shall say Do you believe in God, the
Father Almighty? And the person being baptized
shall say I believe. Then holding his hand on
his head, he shall baptize him once. And then he
shall say Do you believe in Christ Jesus, the
Son of God, who was born of the Virgin Mary, and
was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and was dead
and buried, and rose again the third day, alive
from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and sat
at the right hand of the Father, and will come to
judge the living and the dead? And when he says
I believe, he is baptized again. And again he
shall say Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, in
the holy church, and the resurrection of the
body? The person being baptized shall say I
believe, and then he is baptized a third time.
(Hippolytus, 215 A.D., Creeds Of The Church, Ages
Software, P. 7)
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Week Three -Baptism the Eucharist

• End of Week Three
• Assignment Write a 1 2 page essay (APA
  format with citations) on the origins of
  Baptism and the connections of the Eucharist and
  the Old Testament
• Once completed, submit to the Trinity Drop Box

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Week Four Charismatic Worship
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Charismatic worship

• 1 Corinthians 14 discusses what we today might
  refer to as charismatic worship
• Everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a
  revelation, a tongue or an interpretation." (NIV,
  1 Cor 1426)
• Paul didn't discourage this sort of service, but
  he cautioned that interpretation (prophesy) was
  more important than simply speaking in tongues (1
  Cor 141-5)

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Charismatic worship - Montanus

• An extreme form of charismatic worship grew up in
  the mid-2nd century
• Around c. 156 A.D., a self-styled prophet named
  Montanus started to attract followers in Phrygia,
  Asia Minor
• Early church father Tertullian was among their
  ranks for a period of time
• Montanus fostered a very charismatic environment,
  and believed that the Holy Spirit spoke directly
  through him, and his followers
• Montanists believed that they were receiving
  Divine Revelation, like the Old Testament
  prophets

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Charismatic worship - Montanus

• Some of the bishops of the time (such as
  Serapion, bishop of Antioch) were concerned that
  such prophesizing might be viewed on the same
  level as Holy Scripture and could interfere
  with peoples understanding of the core message
  of the Scriptures
• Around c. 190 A.D., Monatanus was excommunicated,
  but his movement forced the established church to
  examine the role of the Holy Spirit in the church
• In time, the response of the church was that
  revelation ended with the Apostolic Age

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Music

• The New Testament only mentions music in services
  twice (Col 316, Eph 519) and then somewhat
  obliquely
• be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one
  another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
  singing and making melody in your heart to the
  Lord. (NIV Eph 518-20)
• Church Father Clement suggests that hymns should
  be "austere"

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Week Four Charismatic Worship

• End of Week Four
• Go to the Message Board and discuss forms of
  worship in your church and how it correlates to
  the scripture

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Week Five - Church leadership and hierarchy
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Leadership in the Early Church

• The early church was extremely egalitarian in
  nature
• Every baptized member was seen to have a gift
  (see Rom 124-8, 1 Pet 410-11, 1 Cor 121-31, 1
  Cor 1426, Eph 411-13)
• In time, some formal positions of church
  leadership evolved, probably because of the
  ever-increasing size of the congregations
• Congregations are exhorted several times in the
  New Testament to obey and submit to their leaders
  (Heb 1317, 1 Thess 512-13, 1 Tim 517)

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Apostolic succession
"The Apostles have preached to us from the Lord
Jesus Christ Jesus Christ from God...And thus
preaching through countries and cities, they
appointed the first fruits of their conversion to
be bishops and ministers over such as should
afterwards believe, having first proved them by
the Spirit...So likewise our Apostles knew by our
Lord Jesus Christ, that there should contentions
arise, upon account of the ministry. And
therefore having a prefect foreknowledge of this,
they appointed persons, as we have before said,
and then gave direction, how, when they should
die, other chosen and approved men should succeed
in their ministry." (First Epistle of Clement of
Rome to the Corinthians, Chapter 42)
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Apostles

• a delegate specifically an ambassador of the
  Gospel officially a commissioner of Christ
  (apostle), (with miraculous powers)apostle,
  messenger, he that is sent. (Strongs Hebrew and
  Greek Dictionaries)

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Apostolic lists
Matt 102 Mark 316 Luke 614 Acts 113
Andrew Andrew Andrew Andrew
Bartholomew Bartholomew Bartholomew Bartholomew
James son of Alphaeus James son of Alphaeus James son of Alphaeus James son of Alphaeus
James son of Zebedee James son of Zebedee James James
John John John John
Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot
Matthew Matthew Matthew Matthew
Philip Philip Philip Philip
Simon (who is called Peter) Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter) Simon (whom he named Peter) Peter
Simon the Zealot Simon the Zealot Simon who was called the Zealot Simon the Zealot
Thaddaeus Thaddaeus Judas son of James Judas son of James
Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas
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Apostles

• Immediately before his ascension, Christ
  instructs his remaining 11 apostles to carry on
  his ministry
• But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
  comes on you and you will be my witnesses in
  Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
  the ends of the earth. (NIV, Acts 18)
• After the ascension, the 11 remaining apostles
  wished to replace Judas Iscariot, and decided
  that a prime qualification for the replacement
  apostle was to have participated in Jesus'
  earthly ministry from the start (Acts 121-22)
• Matthias (never to be heard from again in the New
  Testament) is chosen as the Judas-replacement

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Apostles beyond the Twelve

• Paul Barnabas (Acts 1414)
• Andronicus and Junias (Rom 167)
• James the brother of Jesus (Gal 119)
• No one after the first century used the title
• Note that Junias (Iounias) is of the feminine
  form
• 1) a Christian woman at Rome, mentioned by Paul
  as one of his kinsfolk and fellow prisoners
• Part of Speech noun proper feminine (Thayers
  Greek Definitions )

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Bishop (or overseer)

• The term bishop comes from the Greek word
  episkopos
• a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in
  general charge of a (or the) church (literally or
  figuratively)bishop, overseer. (Strongs Hebrew
  and Greek Dictionaries)
• In the New Testament, bishops are instructed to
  be shepherds of the church of God (Acts 2028)
• The qualifications to be a bishop are steep (1
  Tim 31-7, Phillipians 11, Titus 15-9)

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Bishop (or overseer)

• By the 2nd century, the role of the bishop was
  more formalized, with a bishop presiding over a
  diocese or see
• Bishops of churches founded by the apostles were
  said to be in succession to the apostles (for
  example John-Polycarp-Irenaeus)

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Elder (or presbyter)

• The term elder comes from the Greek word
  presbuteros
• Both presbyter and priest are derived from
  this word

Comparative of presbus (elderly) older as
noun, a senior specifically an Israelite
Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the
celestial council) or Christian
presbyterelder (-est), old. (Strongs Hebrew
and Greek Dictionaries)
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Elders

• Jerusalem Church - modeled after the Old
  Testament pattern, with elders acting as a
  decision making council in the Jerusalem church
  (see Acts 15, Acts 2117-26)
• Gentile church - used to denote the highest
  official in a particular church or area (Acts
  1423)

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Elders

• The qualifications for elders are similar to the
  aforementioned ones for bishop
• Titus 15-9 could indicate that there was no
  distinction between bishops and elders
• See also James 514-15, 1 Tim 414, and 1 Peter
  51-4 for other references to elders
• The apostles sometimes referred to themselves as
  elders - John refers to himself simply as the
  elder in 2 John 11 and 3 John 11

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Deacons

• From the Greek word diakonos, often translated as
  "servant"
• an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at
  table or in other menial duties) specifically a
  Christian teacher and pastor (technically a
  deacon or deaconess)deacon, minister, servant.
  (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries)
• Traditionally, the first deacons were seven
  Hellenistic Jewish Christians chosen by the
  apostles to assist in the daily distribution of
  food to the poor (Acts 65)
• Stephen has the distinction of being the first
  martyr in the history of the church

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Deacons

• The qualifications to be a deacon are similar to
  those of being a bishop or elder with the
  distinction that there is no requirement to have
  the gift of teaching (1 Tim 38-13)
• By the end of the first century, deacons assisted
  church leaders, managed the church treasury, and
  served the needs of the poor
• In time, they also assisted (but not
  administered) in sacraments such as baptism
• Both women and men served as deacons in the early
  church (Phoebe, a diakonos in Romans 161-2)

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Women as leaders
Woman Reference Comment
Phoebe Romans 161-2 "a deaconess of the church"
Priscilla (or Prisca) Rom 163-5, 1 Cor 1619 Founded at least two home churches with her husband Aquila
Junias Rom 167 "outstanding among the apostles"
Nympha Col 415 Started church in her house
Mary, Mother of Jesus Acts 114 Present at first meetings of church
Euodia, Syntyche Phil 42-3 "these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel"
Four daughters of Philip Acts 218/9 Prophetesses
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How Christians were to treat each other
Reference Key Attribute
Col 312-14 forgiveness, love
Eph 51-2 love
1 John 311-20 love, charity
Eph 425-32 compassion
1 Cor 61-6 no lawsuits
2 Cor 25-11 forgiveness
James 21-9 tolerance, no favoritism
Rom 1210,13 devotion, hospitality
Rom 1216 harmony, humility
1 Pet 48-9 love, hospitality
Rom 141-21 acceptance
Rom 151-7 acceptance
Hebrews 131-3 love, hospitality
James 516 communal confession
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How Christians were to treat each other

• Unruly believers who did not follow the
  tradition received from us were to be shunned
  (Titus 3 10-11, and)
• Visiting Christians were not to be burdens on
  their hosts (2 Thess 36-12)

61
How Christians were to treat each other
But let every one that cometh in the name of the
Lord be received, and afterward ye shall prove
and know him for ye shall have understanding
right and left. If he who cometh is a wayfarer,
assist him as far as ye are able but he shall
not remain with you, except for two or three
days, if need be. But if he willeth to abide with
you, being an artisan, let him work and eat but
if he hath no trade, according to your
understanding see to it that, as a Christian, he
shall not live with you idle. But if he willeth
not to do, he is a Christ-monger. Watch that ye
keep aloof from such. (Teachings of the Twelve
Apostles, Chapter 12, emphasis added)
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Charity

• The importance of giving is stressed in Rom 128,
  Rom 1213, 2 Cor 96-11, Gal 610, James 127,
  James 215-16, 1 John 317-18
• Examples of giving to the poor can be found at
  Acts 936, Acts 102-4, Acts 1129, Rom 1526, 2
  Cor 81-12
• There was practical limits on Christian charity -
  those who were able were expected to fend for
  themselves (1 Tim 54, 16)

63
Apostolic Constitutions On Assembling In The
Church

• And let the women sit by themselves, they also
  keeping silence
• And while the Gospel is read, let all the
  presbyters and deacons, and all the people, stand
  up in great silence...
• But if any one be found sitting out of his
  place, let him be rebuked by the deacon
• In like manner, let the deacon oversee the
  people, that nobody may whisper, nor slumber, nor
  laugh, nor nod

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Apostolic Constitutions On Assembling In The
Church

• Prior to the Eucharist After this, let all
  rise up with one consent, and looking towards the
  east, after the catechumens and penitents are
  gone out
• Then let the men give the men, and the women
  give the women, the Lords kiss passing of the
  peace
• Priestly blessing The Lord bless thee, and
  keep thee the Lord make His face to shine upon
  thee, and give thee peace.
• let the door be watched, lest any unbeliever,
  or one not yet initiated, come in

65
Church officials

• More formal and hierarchical in the 2nd and 3rd
  centuries A.D. than they were in the 1st
• Bishops of major cities (Rome, Antioch, Carthage,
  etc.) were powerful and important figures in
  their congregations
• The 3rd/4th century Apostolic Constitutions tells
  the congregation that the bishop is next after
  God, your earthly God, who has a right to be
  honored by you
• Bishops could be married

66
Married bishops
Such a one a bishop ought to be, who has been
the husband of one wife, who also has herself
had no other husband, ruling well his own
house. In this manner let examination be made
when he is to receive ordination, and to be
placed in his bishopric, whether he be grave,
faithful, decent whether he hath a grave and
faithful-wife, or has formerly had such a one
whether he hath educated his children piously,
and has brought them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord whether his domestics do
fear and reverence him, and are all obedient to
him for if those who are immediately about him
for worldly concerns are seditious and
disobedient, how will others not of his family,
when they are under his management, become
obedient to him? (Apostolic Constitutions, Book
1, Section 1)
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Deacons

• Deacons were to be the right-hand men of the
  bishop
• Both men and women could be deacons with
  deaconesses diligent in the taking care of the
  women
• Both deacons and deaconesses minister to the
  infirm, and carry messages, travel about,
  minister, and serve

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Ascendancy of Rome

• How and why did the Bishop of Rome begin to be
  viewed as the bishop of bishops?
• Peter and Paul preached in Rome (NT Paul
  Church Tradition Peter and Paul)
• Romes importance as the crossroads of the Roman
  Empire may have increased the prestige of the
  Bishop of Rome in Christian circles
• Its rival, Jerusalem, was destroyed by the Romans
  in 70 A.D.

69
Ascendancy of Rome

• Some people suggest that the fact that the
  late-1st century Bishop of Rome Clement responded
  to a request for advice from the church in
  Corinth is an early indication of Roman supremacy
• Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and
  successive calamitous events which have happened
  to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat
  tardy in turning our attention to the points
  respecting which you consulted us (First
  Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, Clement of
  Rome, late 1st-century)

70
Ascendancy of Rome

• The first Bishop of Rome that invoked the rock
  and keys argument to back Roman supremacy was
  Bishop (254-56 A.D.) Stephen of Rome

71
Rock and keys argument

• Peter was the first Bishop of Rome
• Peter was the rock upon which Jesus would build
  his Church, and Jesus assigned him the keys to
  the kingdom (Mat 1618-19)
• Thus, the line of succession from the first
  Bishop of Rome (Peter) assumed the rock and
  keys mantle
• Protestants interpret Mat 1618-19 to indicate
  that the faith of Peter is the rock upon which I
  will build my church, and that faith is the
  keys to the kingdom

72
Sources
Title Author Publisher Date
Art Explosion 600,000 Nova Dev. 1999
Holy Bible - New International Version Zondervan Publishing House 1973
Religious Stained Glass Corel 1993
Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries Parsons Technology 1999
Thayers Greek Definitions Parsons Technology 1999
The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1 Edited by A. Roberts and J Donaldson Ages Software 2000
The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 5 Edited by A. Roberts and J Donaldson Ages Software 2000
The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 7 Edited by A. Roberts and J Donaldson Ages Software 2000
The Early Church Henry Chadwick Dorset Press 1967
The Life And Works Of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator Ages Software 1997
Worship in the Early Church Christian History, Issue 37
73
Week Six Essay Paper and Assessments

• Write a 2000 word essay on key points of the
  Early Church-
• Must be in the APA format List all citations.
  Do not plagiarize.
• Submit final paper through the Trinity Drop Box.

74
The Early Church

• Congratulations!
• You have completed this course!
• May the Lord Jesus richly bless you.